B & M Gilmore (East Antrim) - BHW Stud Book 2012

[willie reynolds]

Back in 1974/75 I played in goal for Ballyeaston Young Men football club whose pitch was just over the hedge from a pigeon loft belonging to Leslie Gilmore . Leslie was a frequent visitor to my father's loft just down the road on the outskirts of Ballyclare. Today Leslie's sons Mervyn and Brian fly to their late father's loft with much success especialy from the distance races from France. The Squills article below goes back to 2012 but the brothers still fly a good family of long distanc pigeons being prize winners in both Plougastel and St Allouestre in 2024. I've fond memories of that 1970s football season as we won our Divison of the Churches League, and I was voted Player of the Year. This resulted in me signing for Ballyclare Comrades where my first match the following season was at Clandyboye Park against then Irish League Club Bangor, quite a step up from the Churches League.But we managed to get a 3 all draw with one of Bangor's goals being scored by a young Gerry Armstrong, who went on to score possibly N Ireland's most famous goal ever when he hit the winner against Spain in the World Cup. Milne Mairs.